Persons with disabilities to be nominated to local bodies in Tamil Nadu; Governor clears bill

Chennai: Over 20,000 local bodies in Tamil Nadu will have persons with disabilities as nominated members as part of the DMK dispensation’s efforts to make their voices heard in governance with Governor R N Ravi putting his seal of approval to a bill in this regard.

The Governor’s approval in about 45 days after the bill was passed in the assembly triggered a political reaction with Chief Minister M K Stalin saying Ravi might have signed the bill into law fast due to fears that the state government would move the courts again.

“Yeah, the governor has approved the bill relating to disabled people today…It was expected as the bill was passed in the Assembly. Maybe, he was scared that we would go to court if he didn’t give his assent to the bill,” Stalin told reporters when asked to comment on the Governor’s action.

The government felt the need to nominate persons with disabilities to local bodies since only 35 of them were elected to urban local bodies. The law now calls for nominating representatives from the community to 650 urban local bodies, 12,913 village panchayats, 388 panchayat unions, and 37 district panchayats.

“Their voices will be heard in local governance,” Chief Minister M K Stalin had said in April while moving the Bill. The bill followed an announcement by Stalin in February that the state government will give representation to persons with disabilities.

The bill will pave the way for the community’s representation in local bodies and enable them to get equal opportunities and special rights. The allocation to persons with disabilities has also increased from Rs 667 crore in 2021 to Rs 1,432 crore in 2025.